Newbury funeral for ‘dedicated soldier’
WO Spencer Faulkner killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
THE funeral of a ‘conscientious, loyal and dedicated’ soldier who was killed in Afghanistan, far from his West Berkshire home, was held in Newbury last week.
Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer Faulkner was one of five servicemen who died when an Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter came down in the Takhta Pul district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province on April 27.
Comrades and friends bore the coffin of the 39-year-old father of two, draped in a Union flag; topped with a wreath of poppies and a light blue beret of the Army Air Corps, into St John’s Church, Newbury, last Friday.
Following the service, The Last Post resonated in the rain while his death was honoured with three, six-rifle volleys and a fly-past from a Lynx helicopter.
His coffin was then taken to the West Berkshire Crematorium in Thatcham.
WO Faulkner grew up in Waterlooville, but lived in Burghfield Common and had family ties with Hungerford.
His family said in a statement: “Spen was a loving husband to Cally and devoted father to Natasha and Jack, and will be greatly missed.
“A huge gap has been left in our hearts forever. He has been tragically taken away whilst serving his country, a job he loved. God rest his soul.”
Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News Army Chaplain, Padre Robin Richardson, said: “The church was absolutely packed. Every seat was taken, which was testament to the popularity, professionalism and regard in which he was held.”
WO2 Faulkner joined the Army as a Geographic Technician with the Royal Engineers in September 1992 and was selected for aircrew in 2005. He completed his initial flying training prior to moving to the Lynx in 2007 and became a pilot in the Army Air Corps.
The MoD said that WO2 Faulkner was a true Army Warrant Officer in bearing and professionalism; deploying to Afghanistan on numerous occasions, often at short notice, to support UK Armed Forces.
His Commanding Officer said that WO2 Faulkner had been a stalwart of the Squadron for many years, consistently displaying the guile, leadership and bravery so closely associated with his Squadron.
The Commander for the deployed Lynx Detachment said he was a “conscientious, loyal and dedicated soldier who was a privilege to command.”
He said: “Sharing a cockpit with him you would get insight into the true man; a loving husband and hugely dedicated father to his two children. I feel honoured to be able to call him a friend and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at this difficult time.”
WO2 Faulkner was based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire along with Captain Thomas Clarke, Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan and Corporal James Walters who were also killed in the crash.
Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, an Army reservist from 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, was also killed in the crash, which the MoD described as a tragic accident which occurred on a routine flight.
Their deaths take the UK toll in Afghanistan to 453. British forces are preparing to withdraw combat troops later this year.
